As Australian and New Zealand travellers start looking into adventures to book for the coming year, the experts at G Adventures, the world’s leading small-group adventure tour operator, have announced their top four travel hotspots with a difference for 2017.

From Yurt-making in Kyrgyzstan, fjord exploring in Greenland and sailing in Montenegro, there has never been a better time to get out of your comfort zone and experience this great blue planet of ours. Here are four off-the-beaten-path travel experiences you won’t want to miss.

Montenegro

This Balkan beauty has recently become a hotspot for celebrity visits, but that doesn’t mean it’s too expensive for Average Joe adventures. At a time when travellers are looking for affordable and accessible European destinations to get their dose of sun and sea, G Adventures has launched new sailing trips around the surprisingly affordable destination. The first company to do small group sailing in Montenegro, G Adventures new itinerary visits the stunning Bay of Kotor, a region that is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Iran

Iran has been off the tourist trail for years, but with the lifting of sanctions and increased investment in tourism infrastructure old Persia is back on the list of hot destinations. Australians and New Zealanders are among 30 nationalities that can get visas on arrival, making it more accessible than ever and with G Adventures sales up 79% on last year, travellers who want to see it first should book on Iran – Discover Persia.

Greenland

In 2017, G Adventures is encouraging travellers to see parts of Greenland most overland tourists miss and to see them in a different way. After a 372-year-old shark was discovered this year, nature lovers will be in a frenzy to get on the water and explore the fjords around Greenland. With opportunities to see the Northern Lights on an expedition vessel (avoiding the sometimes costly on land accommodation) G Adventures is predicting Greenland will be the new Iceland as travellers look for places less travelled and its Arctic Highlights adventure, which allows travellers to visit a tiny Inuit community, is the perfect opportunity to explore the country.

The ‘Stans – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan

The ‘Stans are once again top on the list of off-the-beaten-track destinations after visa restrictions relaxed in Central Asia. Travellers with G Adventures won’t only come home with an unusual passport stamp, but will also learn to build the very yurts they sleep in and take part in homestays with local families, supporting community-based tourism along the way. G Adventures have a range of trips in Central Asia for 2017 including a 14-day Central Asia Adventure.

For more information or to book a trip to any of the above destinations, call 1300 796 618 or visit www.gadventures.com.au